Nikon D850 Review

Nikon D850 Review

The Nikon D850 is Nikon's latest high resolution full-frame DSLR, boasting a 46MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. But, in a fairly radical departure for the series, it is also one of the company's fastest-shooting DSLRs. This combination of properties should significantly widen the camera's appeal to high-end enthusiasts as well as a broad range of professional photographers.

1080 video at up to 120p, recorded as roughly 1/4 or 1/5th speed slow-mo

4:2:2 8-bit UHD uncompressed output while recording to card

1 XQD slot and 1 UHS II-compliant SD slot

Battery life rated at 1840 shots

3.2" tilting touchscreen with 2.36M-dot (1024×768 pixel) LCD

Illuminated controls

19.4MP DX crop (or 8.6MP at 30fps for up to 3 sec)

SnapBridge full-time Bluetooth LE connection system with Wi-Fi

Advanced time-lapse options (including in-camera 4K video creation)

High resolution

The use of a backside illuminated (BSI) sensor means that the light collecting elements of the sensor are closer to the surface of the chip. This should not only increase the efficiency of the sensor (improving low light performance) but should also be expected to make the pixels near the edges of the sensor better able to accept light approaching with high angles of incidence, improving peripheral image quality.

A BSI sensor with ISO 64 setting should be able to match the D810's low ISO DR while also offering improved performance in at high ISOs.

The D850 has gained a more usable electronic front curtain shutter option (EFCS), which can now be used quiet shutter modes, as well as live view and Mirror-Up mode. To get the full benefit, though, you need to turn on exposure delay (which has had two sub-second delay settings added). However, exposure delay persists across all shooting modes. Thankfully, and presumably thanks to a redesigned shutter and mirror mechanism, mirror/shutter shock doesn't seem to be much of an issue, even without engaging EFCS.

The D850 has no anti-aliasing filter, which should allow for slightly finer detail capture but with added risk of moiré, if any of your lenses are sharp enough to out-resolve a 45.7MP full-frame sensor. There's still no sign of the clever design Nikon patented so, unlike the Pentax K-1 or Sony RX1R II, you can't engage an anti-aliasing effect if you do find false color appearing in densely patterned areas.

High Speed

In addition to the increased speed, the D850 also gains the full AF capabilities of the company's flagship sports camera: the D5. This includes all the hardware: AF module, metering sensor and dedicated AF processor, as well as the full range of AF modes and configuration options, which should translate to comparable focus performance combined with high resolution.

Given the D5 possessed one of the best AF systems we've ever seen and could continue to offer that performance in a wide range of conditions and shooting scenarios with minimal need for configuration, this is an exciting prospect.

As part of this system, the D850 gains the automated system for setting an AF Fine Tune value. It only calibrates the lens based on the central AF point and for a single distance, but it's a simple way to ensure you're getting closer to your lenses' full capabilities, which is handy given you'll now be able to scrutinize their performance with 46MP of detail.

Add the optional MB-D18 battery grip and an EN-EL18b battery, and the D850 will shoot at 9 frames per second.

Impressively, the D850 can shoot at nine frames per second if you add the optional MB-D18 battery grip and buy an EN-EL18b battery, as used in the D5. As well as increasing the camera's burst rate, this combination also ups the battery life to a staggering 5140 shots per charge. You don't get this same boost in speed or endurance if you use a second EN-EL15a in the grip, though.

An MB-D18 plus an EN-EL18b is likely to set you back over $580 over and above the cost of the camera body ($399 for the grip, around $149 for the battery, $30 for the BL-6 battery chamber cover plus the cost of a charger).

The D850 also includes a sufficiently deep buffer to allow fifty-one 14-bit losslessly compressed Raw files, meaning the majority of photographers are unlikely to hit its limits.

Video capabilities

In terms of video the D850 becomes the first Nikon DSLR to capture 4K video from the full width of its sensor. The camera can shoot at 30, 25 or 24p, at a bitrate of around 144 Mbps. It can simultaneously output uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit UHD to an external recorder while recording to the card. The camera subsamples to capture its video, lowering the level of detail capture and increasing the risk of moiré, along with a theoretical reduction in low light performance. We'll look at how significant this impact is, later in the review.

At 1080 resolution, the camera can shoot at up to 60p, with a slow-mo mode that can capture at 120 frames per second before outputting at 30, 25 or 24p. The 1080 mode also offers focus peaking and digital stabilization, neither of which are available for 4K shooting.

The D850's tilting rear screen will make video shooting easier, though we doubt many will use its contrast-detection tap-to-focus system when they do.

The D850 doesn't have any Log gamma options for high-end videographers, but it does have the 'Flat' Picture Profile to squeeze a little extra dynamic range into its footage, without adding too much to the complexity of grading. It also offers full Auto ISO with exposure compensation when shooting in manual exposure mode, meaning you can set your aperture value and shutter speed, and let the camera try to maintain that brightness by varying the sensitivity.

As you'd expect from a camera at this level, the D850 also includes the Power Aperture feature that allows the camera to open and close the lens iris smoothly when in live view mode. There's also an 'Attenuator' mode for the camera's audio capture, that rolls-off any loud noises to avoid unpleasant clipping sounds.

Focus peaking will cost you an arm and a leg .... that is how camera makers make money ..... they obviously omit .... and if you request it prepare to stitch shut your pocket ..... if not .... get hold on to your arms and legs ....

Well, you have a good camera and stick to it as long as you think the new ones are not so much better than yours. I have a D800. I watched D800E, D810, D810A, and felt they were not a big step above D800. But now I see the D850 and I think the time has come, although I think in 2018 Nikon will launch D860AE%&, which will cure some (not known yet) young age diseases of D850.

<<The D850 doesn't have any Log gamma options for high-end videographers, but it does have the 'Flat' Picture Profile to squeeze a little extra dynamic range into its footage, without adding too much to the complexity of grading.>> This is an often heard PR hoax, but it's not correct. There are tons of log gamma options for free on the internet like CineFlat, and you can even make them yourself with Nikon Picture Control Utility. All are free, while Canon and Panasonic charge you $ 99,- for them. Canon even wants you to send your a 5D Mk 4 in (from Holland to Germany in our case) to install the log. BTW: there is technically no difference between a log gamma option and a flat picture profile. They're both just a gamma curve, that's all. Oh, and Nikon flat gives you 2.5 stops DR extra compared to the standard picture profile. A little? Best regards, Dré

The purpose of true Log is to give even data distribution to the entire image. Usually, shadows get very little, which is why they get blocky and compressed so easily. The second, obviously, is to increase DR.

Looks great on paper and good to see Nikon pushing the envelope. Probably best to wait a few weeks to let the dust settle. Of course, always good to wait a few weeks until after release, just to make a rational decision when all the facts are known.

As a wildlife shooter, I could not be more excited about this new D850. Already very happy with the DX version (D500) this one just adds more features. The amazing AF and huge buffer using XQD has been such a pleasant experience with the D500. Lately, I have been shooting backstage, in the dark with D500 and it has done the job very well for me. The QC button allows high speed quiet mode and it is a nice feature. All the good of D500 and full frame DOF, plus +plus. As far as mirrorless and video, I don't care about them. I want a big, bright viewfinder and no lag with super fast autofocus and a large buffer to process 9fps. If they fix Snapbridge, that would also be nice.

I like the D500 because of the 1.5 X reachon FF lenses and the fact the auto focus goes to the edgesthe buffer size of 200 shots great for wildlife and sports .So may buy it...Interesting to see if my mind changes once test/ reviewscome out on the D850

@tazz93, have you had good luck with cropping? I'm just curious because I'm wondering if it's truly equivalent to using a crop sensor. I'm thinking about the resolving power of the lens. Would a cropped D850 image look as good as an uncropped image from a D500 if the same FF lens is used on both?

Wow as a former Canon 5DMK3 im happy to see that Nikon is even trying to atleast keep there loyal customers.I wish 850D was released before Canon 5DMK4 rekt us, and I may have switch to Nikon. Now after 6 months with Olympus spending alot of cash on new glass Im very happy. That switch hurt alot in dollaz but just the silent shutter, focus stacking, focus peaking, tilt screen is so worth it. I use these features alot, with Canon I never could.Happy birthday Nikon and all the Nikon users out there Im happy for you:)

As a Canon hobbyist (6D), I can only hope Canon is on the verge of releasing a great FF mirrorless camera to capture back the lead. The 5D4 looks ok, but before it's one year anniversary, it will be stale.

I am also a 6D user. I have been so disappointed by the easy unmasking of shadow noise, and see the 6DmkII is no better, maybe even a little worse. No one is even close to Nikon, except maybe Sony (but no glass!). If the tests bear out our assumptions of D810 levels of noise, I will dump my Canon gear. Much is long in the tooth anyway, and Sigma will allow me to remount my recently acquired ART glass. I was leaning toward the 5Dsr but the shadows and DR are not quite there. I do a lot of low light and HDR shots, and pulling the shadows on my 6D is always a mess, lots of work in post. Canon, do you really care about us any more? I feel played by them, milking their cash cow. But guys, your cow is dying! At least SOMEONE feels the heat and is doing something about it!

I don't understand. What coffin? I am a Nikon user, but I respect and like Canon's cameras as well. Yest, D850 seems to be an excellent camera. But Canon has excellent cameras too, in two years there will be 5 more of both Nikon and Canon. So relax, please.

Before all, the price in europe seems strangely high. Price of the d850 is about 3500 pounds = 3800 euros. In dollars that makes almost 4500$. I see it for pre-order at 3300$ in the US (BH Photo). 1200$ more for europe, 36% difference. The d180 costs about 1830 pounds in europe = 2000 euros = 2360$ dollars. Yet it costs 2800$ in the US, 18% less for europe. So I don't understand why the price differences in opposite directions, taxes and exchange rates can't explain that. Maybe it's temporary, related to demand and availability. I think it is important to keep this in mind when reading comments and reviews. Perhaps for 3300$ the specs are good, but for 4500$ they wouldn't be so great, so people complain or praise accordingly. Please correct me if i got my prices wrong.

Very good camera spec wise. Also good to see Nikon shine again. Hope it will sale well.

But personally after going mirrorless I cannot imagine going back to dslr, having separate focus system is starting to be disadvantage (camera is focusing differently in shot/video/silent modes for example).

I hope Nikon will show full frame mirrorless system soon. Maybe stylish alternative to Sony and Fuji systems with spectacular glass.

The Nikon D850 has every imaginary technology Nikon has developed. And with a battery grip, we get 9 fps, ideal for sports photography. And now its silent shutter is a welcomed addition for all wedding and sports photographers. This removes the need for a mirrorless camera.

The advantage of a mirrorless camera is that you can shoot silently while looking through the viewfinder like a proper, professional photographer while all the amateurs are holding their cameras like smartphones. And good luck keeping a 400mm lens steady at arm's length...

Why would you need a silent shutter with a 400mm lens? You are far away from birds and in any case, they aren't that easy scared. I guess you don't have a 400mm lens so you don't know what you talking about.

(it should be able to compete with the medium format sensors used in the likes of the Fujifilm GFX 50S and Pentax 645Z) It wont. You write something you dont believe yourself. Medium format has a unique beauty which mostly stems from softer focus gradation. If D850 has a good DR, it will conquer our hearts, if not go to hell. We dont worship brands any more especially after Pentax K1. We will see.

I read the review of Fujifilm Medium Format GFX 50S on Petapixel. I here cite the part about focus: 'The depth of field also acts differently on larger sensors, giving you a smoother transition from in focus to out of focus. In my opinion, this aspect of medium format cameras allows for your images to obtain a bit more layering and, thus, give a bit more of that three dimensional feel to your two dimensional photograph'. The images in this article really look 3D. Check out please.

Medium format for digital is too expensive to sell to everybody. For top fashion pros medium format offers a significant advantage but not for me. I shoot mostly macro and crop sensor cams give more depth of field. Graphene organic sensors will change photography very soon. But sensor production lines will have to be changed forever which costs too much I guess.

'I read the review of Fujifilm Medium Format GFX 50S on Petapixel. I here cite the part about focus: 'The depth of field also acts differently on larger sensors, giving you a smoother transition from in focus to out of focus.'

Well endofoto, all I can say is: just because you read it on the internet doesn't make it true.

Rishi Sanyal, you are right it may not be true. However, you can easily tell which photos are taken with cell phones, especially portraits. The size of the sensor must have an effect on optics. The pictures taken with GFX 50S are really different than DSLR pictures. Something is different but hard to tell what is different.

I shoot with a D7200. It does what I need. A newer model, leave alone a FF, is not in my plans. Despite that, this model is getting my attention. It is impressive. Unless the camera actually runs into problems like the D600, it sounds like as perfect a camera as one can get at just over $3K. By year end, we may see Christmas special discounts as well. That'll be awesome.

All that said, I am not in favor of another DSLR. After using my FZ2500 in silent mode, I decided that my next big camera will be a mirrorless ILC. Whether Canon or NIkon will produce what I like will decide who will get my money. It could be the next iteration of M5. Canon has better lenses for MILC.

I like Sony for pushing the envelope. I don't like the ergonomics and few other aspects of that system. They have recently resolved some EVF issues, and introduced batteries with longer life. Even their menus and UI have improved in recent models. I hope that Canon and Nikon can pick up from there and do better.

The D7200 is a damn fine camera. But I have to agree with Ross - Nikon need to get some serious skin in the pro/semi-pro MILC game, and fast. The One series, technically impressive though it was, wasn't it.

@Nikonandmore, that's exactly what most people in comments sections of DPR articles do. "Eagerly wait" for any mention of any problem so they can complain about it, blow it out of proportion and pass it as a huge deal-breaking issue. "Oh no, X-T2 gets purple glare in these very specific conditions that are hard to reproduce! Horrific!" "Oh my, A9 has banding issues that appear under certain rare LED lights with a very specific PWM modulation, while using electronic shutter! Unacceptable!" "Oh my god, D750 has shutter issues that took years to discover because almost no one ever encounters them and which Nikon offers to fix for free! Literally unusable!"

While they worry and wait for their magical perfect-in-every-way camera (which will never come), we'll keep shooting.

DPR has earned its reputation of having some of the most childish and obnoxious commenters on the web. I visit rarely because of the high volume of trolls but find many of the articles are quite good and reviews being well done but I can't recommend it to beginners or those who could be misinformed by the posters

Grab the D5300 and D5500. Or even the D810 and D750. There's actually a significant improvement in the grips vs any prior Nikon, and for the better. They're deeper into the body, giving a much more secure feeling. I was impressed the first time I held both cameras, and I'm sure with the larger body, the grip will be even better on the D850.

If Nikon is referring to this battery orientation change for the D850, then it is no "marketing BS" at all, it is a very desirable improvement for many. However, if they've not done so, then they will have had to done some other sort of major improvement for me to NOT call it marketing BS.

Can anybody explain why Nikon waste a spot on the mode dial for QUAL, this should be for changing your custom settings. How many people change their quality on the fly, set it to RAW and forget it, no need for a dedicated button. Look at how easy it is to access C1-C3 settings on Canon via mode dial.

Of all the settings up there they should put somewhere else and re-dedicate the button to a U1-U2 type thing, QUAL is the *last* setting I'd move. It's WAY better off up there, than down right between the WB and ISO buttons, two settings that people change all the time, on the D750 / D7200 etc.

Nikon could put metering back on a switch like the D700 / D800 had. They could put the MODE dial back on the right, too. They could move the WB button somewhere else if they had to, since WB is an irrelevant setting for RAW shooters...

But, for the love of god, please leave the QUAL setting right where it is.

He is talking about the lens mount. And he is absolutely right in asking for that. My Nikon DF lens mount just broke and separated from the plastic mount that links it to the body. This happened because the body was fitted with my 70-210 2.8 lens in my bag. No drop, no impact, just the weight of the lens. Repair cost 787 euros (900 Usd). Nikon expert who examined the destroyed mount told me that I should have stored the body without the lens in my bag because of the plastic mount. My old (and highly reliable) D700 body is all magnesium. No plastic. D800 is also magnesium. But not the Thai-made D810... Which has similar problems (Lens box broken - Check Google with "D810 lens mount broken"). Nikon says that plastic support for the lens mount is more stable in time and that metal may move over the time creating mis-alignement of the lenses. I suspect the reason for that switch is more ... economy and weight saving. But all together, when it brakes in two, believe me, it's a nightmare.

Absolutely awesome camera! However, Progress 101 - any machine with more moving parts is eventually replaced by machine with less moving parts. Mirrors and its complex flapping mechanism will one day be a thing of past. Very soon.

I have been hearing that for a while now. I'm getting to the point where I am starting to despise mirrorless evangelists. Must you come into every article and preach that crud to me? When the mlic has a battery life of 1k+shots I may look at them a little closer.

If you are actually into image capture and not just examining gear... this is a phenomenal piece of equipment (as are a lot of high end cameras from other manufacturers). We have definitely hit the point in digital where there is absolutely no excuse to not make excellent images. Nikon obviously went all out on this model.

Interesting in all the discussion about binning and rolling shutter in 4k video there is only discussion of the 5D and not the A9 which appears to have solved both issues. (Ok. there is a 1.1x crop for A9 in 4k mode. And NO, the A9 doesn't overheat.)

Looks fantastic but surprised Nikon is only offering a 17mm eyepoint on the viewfinder. I guess at this level users are not expected to be wearing eyeglasses. It can be a consideration, especially if an eyecup is installed. Other makers claim eyepoints up to 24mm; that 7mm difference is meaningful.

Unfortunatly, eyepoint specs between brands or even models within one brand aren't comparable. Eyepoint is measured from the most rear glass surface of the eye piece. Whereas it should be measured from the most rear contac point of the body. Most differences in "eye relief" are actually nil, just meaning that one eye piece is more recessed into the body than another.

Nikon updated their website about the battery chamber cover, it had said BL-6 battery chamber cover this morning for the battery grip to use an EN-EL18 battery but it is now the BL-5 battery chamber cover so you may want to update the article.

What's wrong with a tilting screen; I can only see advantages. Using my D750 mounted on a tripod, on a daily basis, professionally. I will never buy a camera that doesn't have a tilting screen anymore. The number 1 feature for my kind of work (real estate/architecture).

The Tilting rear screen on the D500 is a great when shooting macro, astrophotography or any angle other than head height. Wish my D810 had it while i was shooting the eclipse last Monday, Would have saved me from laying on the ground under the tripod for 2 hours so I could track the dam thing. If I did have the titling screen I could have sat in my chair enjoying a beer instead..!!! Im glad they added it to this camera. pre-ordered mine and cant wait til it arrives

OK, so your first comment was just 'tongue in cheek' sarcasm then? Yeah I know there are those that come here & comment like that because something doesn't suit them, but they were never going to buy anyhow. Most likely because they couldn't afford it to start with (neither could I as the Olympus E-M1 Mk II was a stretch for me recently).

I have been using a D500 for awhile now and still keep forgetting how nice the tilting screen is. I had set up a few days ago a tripod that was very high up and could not really see the screen from the ground. (I am 6-1). I went and got a step ladder and realized that if I had just tilted the screen down a bit I would not have need it. Very handy to have, after years of not.

I shoot and enjoy an X-T2. I will continue to keep the X-T2 and the Fuji 16-55 2.8 lens as one of my bodies. But I will also GLADLY be adding the D850 to complement the Fuji. Between the two I can tackle weddings, events, portraits, and landscapes with great confidence.

What is nice is that Nikon made the best darn all-round DSLR they could, the recent D500 and D5 are both competition, but looks like the specs have not been brain damaged in some way so as not to compromise the market position of there own related products.

Good point! As far as DSLR's go this is by far the best effort anyone it's ever made at: "Can Do It All" pro body, even if the sensor behaves like the D810 you'd still have a real pro tool for the next 3/4/ years easily..... This is exactly the DSLR I was hoping from the Canon 5D Mark IV as their: "Last DSLR Song Ever"" since I still believe global mirrorless electronic shutters are the feature and it's just inevitable to fight progress, but hey they insist the know better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I think it's more about DSLR's still having the edge in performance for demanding professionals, not that they think DSLR's will be the best forever.

It's probably wise for Nikon and Canon to keep the pressure in the DSLR space, where there is still plenty of money to be made, and have a separate team working on realizing the mirrorless revolution ;)

If you "just take photos", and are happy with your D800, then yeah, stick with what works.

Just don't ever hold one, or let anyone else show you how many new customizations they've got that make their life so much easier, because one you find out what you're missing, it'll be game over. (Your wallet loses, but you win.)

I felt the same way about my D700, when the D800, D800e, and D810 came out. Meh, not interested. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Quote like: As you see in the last frame above, sometimes the camera inexplicably falters in maintaining focus on a subject. Below, the camera tracked the subject for a few frames, then completely lost focus, despite our keeping the center point over him the entire time.

Or: and can be very erratic, often jumping off to entirely unrelated subjects and drastically different depths. It simply doesn't work nearly as well as the market leaders.

The specs are just about perfect. The key for me will be whether the high iso performance is at least the equal of the d810 and if overall iq is as good as well. If so, highly likely I'll be selling at least one of my existing bodies to get an 850.

Would have loved to see the flash sync speed improved, especially with the resolution bump requiring faster shutter speeds.

On the other hand, no other manufacturer seems to care about this anymore, either, and even the vaunted Sony A9 cannot sync AT ALL with its electronic shutter. Maybe the industry is moving to continuous lighting?

Yep! The original Canon 1D had a 1/500 flash sync, as well. This is one area where camera manufacturer's have literally gone backwards in specification.

I'm not a "natural light only" photographer, and the higher megapixels and sharper lenses in today's photographic systems makes the lack of a faster flash sync all the more frustrating when shooting moving subjects with speedlights.

Some of the freelancers working for our in-house photoshoots say that this firmware is not typically Nikon. The good-old solidity seems missing and at times the basics like positioning and gripping the clickers induces a bit of clumsiness - not sure how well I have worded it on behalf of a group that really understands digital cameras

I was hoping to be able to skip another generation of d8xx because my D800 is still capable of remarkable image quality. The D800 AF is becoming a drag though. It was ok in 2012 but is definitely showing its age now.

Great 4k video is a big thing for me. Hopefully, the implementation is good. I don't want to have to invest 10k in a Sony system to get production quality 4k when I already have a full suite of Nikon lenses and accessories.

I guess my MacBook Pro is going to have to soldier on for another couple of years because that money is going to Nikon.

Is there a mode to crop down to 20 Megapixels and gain any FPS speed over the full sized image 7 or 9 FPS burst shooting? That would be great for the sport shooters that need more speed and reach and can sacrifice a little resolution.

The buffer is filled with 45.7MP RAW files, no matter what resolution you set the output to. Reducing the resolution actually slows the camera down because the image processor needs to work harder to downsample the images than just save the RAWs. I believe that the buffer size is 200 RAWs and that can be cleared in 7 seconds to the memory card.

I think the 7fps limitation is just so Nikon can sell $1k grips to people who value absolute speed. I guess it could also be a battery power thing, but I doubt it.

(source: imaging resource article about the D850 where they asked this very question).

FPS boosts have usually been linked to actual voltage boosts on Nikon, AKA mower power to the shutter, ever since the D300. The larger battery allows 11.x volts to hit the camera; the smaller battery throws 7.x volts at the camera.

The D500 and other cameras may be able to pull off a higher FPS with the same volts, but I guess Nikon simply feels they need the added voltage this time for whatever reason. It could be that the D500 shutter and sensor are smaller and not BSI, respectively, and therefore can achieve 10 FPS on "just" 7.x V. Who knows.

Either way, it's not the Nikon M.O. to hold back on something like this, if they can avoid it. Nikon generally tells their engineers "go all-out, no gimping the camera for aftermarket accessories, just do the best you can without going over $XYZ target price"...

Focus peaking is welcome but in my experience with the Sonys is unreliable from what I've seen from people on my workshops and my Nex 7 unless you zoom in at 100% and verify.

Thing is there's a lot of new features that although look great on paper haven't been tested over time. I wouldn't buy one straight away. My D810 has been a dream to use, if you think about it, the D810 is actually a polished and much improved version of the D800. Imagine a D860..

The launch price is also too much for Europe compared to the US price, a real robbery! No wonder the grey market is flourishing. I Can't afford it anyways

@MattiD80, is that 500 more than the D810 *currently*costs, or 500 more than what the D810 originally hit shelves for? This is a very important differentiation to make, if you want to be fair when comparing a brand new camera to a years-old one...

500 euro more then D810 original cost, 600 euro more then current cost. And this is part of why i'm mad. D810 hasn't lowered a dent in price. Grey market, second hand market. It all is 'locked' in belgium by nikon price deals (only nikon pro dealers are allowed to sell d810). And they all price maximum. On lens there's a few price games where some lenses come down in price like 24-70mm VR, but not for D8xx cause Nikon doesn't sell to companies that low to do price spikes to shake the market (like media market).

Savage list of specs, truly a ground shaking camera. I would have loved to see them ditch the top lcd for a e-ink type of display, like the Fuji GFX. Those old Casio looking screens are starting to look quite dated.

@KEnrique: still, to protect 5DIV sales, 5DsII will have to be a lot more expensive... or more slow on fps... with crippled video... OR Canon lowers the price of its 5DIV. Dreamer...

The real problem is that it "seems" impossible for Canon to deliver a flagship that has both high resolution, top DR, high fps... like D850.Not speaking of sports/pro bodies, they build a lineup starting from 5DIV: average resolution, average DR, top AF and speed.If you want higher res: 5Ds but at the cost of lower DR, lower speed. And 'cos of 5DIV limitations: 6DII gets lower res, low DR and crippled options to protect 5DIV sales.But at the beginning, all comes from 5DIV own limitations. And yet they sell this camera lineup for higher costs than D850 and Nikon cam' lineup !

Good upgrade at at a reasonable price too. However still behind mirrorless cameras in following:1) no truly silent shooting with CAF 2) while af point spread is larger than on d800, on cameras like Sony A7r2 and a9 the points go further toward edges3) viewfinder is larger at 0.75 but still smaller than Evfs on full frame Sonys 0.78 or even Fuji 0.774) video appears to be behind mirrorless5) mirrorless offer 1/32000 shutter speed with electronic shutter6) mirrorless offers Electronic first shutter 7) mirrorless bodies generally are smaller while d850 seemed to increase weight on d8108) does not have anything comparable to canons dual pixel technology for live view

Bottom line - for Nikon full frame shooters who don't need d5 - i don't see anyone with d800/d810 NOT wanting to upgrade - just the af alone is a great upgrade.

1. Flash sync speed is still better than any brand without a leaf shutter. Yes everyone does HSS but it's not the same. 2. 1 battery gets you 1800+ shots. Mirrorless is at least 3+3. Mirrorless is generally smaller but with the same size lenses as DSLRs. Weight is one metric but ergonomics are another. Proper ergonomics can make a heavier system feel lighter. And allow the user to function longer in comfort. I'll take ergonomics over the weight metric any day. 4. 1/32000 is useful for a very small niche of people.5. What you see in an EVF already happened. No matter how good they get. 6. Mirrorless buffers haven't caught up to DSRLs. It's great the a9 can shoot 14 fps, but that video shown on DPRreview comparing the a9, D5, 1DxII showed the Canon and Nikon cameras clearing the buffer in 4-5 seconds. The a9 took 54 seconds. You can't even access the menu or limp along at 1 fps while it clears like you can with CaNikon. To me, that lack of functionality trumps other features.

You don't have to wait for the entire buffer on the A9 to clear before shooting again. You can still shoot with the remaining buffer space as the buffer empties. Burst rate will depend on how many shots you have left at the moment and how fast files are written to the card.

I'll add to mgblack74's list with a response to this one: "mirrorless bodies generally are smaller while d850 seemed to increase weight on d810" - The a9 weight increased 45% over the original a7 series bodies, the D850 a whopping 2.5% over the D810. The a9 also got 31% taller than the previous generation MILCs, while the D850 is 3.7% shorter than the D810. Seems like MILCs may "catch up to DSLRs" in the size/weight department at that pace, LOL.

More about gear in this article

A teardown of a Nikon D850 has provided proof that the camera's sensor is made by Sony Semiconductor. The chip's design and performance already strongly supported this, but the confirmation also gives a hint about how the industry works.

Nikon looks to be positioning its D850 as a serious video rig with today's announcement of its D850 Filmmaker's Kit. The kit includes the body, 20/35/85mm F1.8G lenses, an Atomos Ninja Flame external recorder, two microphones and an extra battery.

Dan and Sally Watson over at Learning Cameras put the Nikon D850, Sony a7R III, and Canon 5D Mark IV through their paces, testing all three cameras for everything from skin tones, to dynamic range, to autofocus tracking and more.

It's that time. You, our readers, cast thousands of votes last month in our latest series of readers' polls. Now, with our final poll closed, it's time to see which product takes the crown as your choice for overall winner of 2017.

Latest in-depth reviews

The Hasselblad X1D-50c is a mirrorless medium format camera from one of the most famous camera brands of the 20th century. Following a series of feature-enhancing firmware updates we've been able to complete our review.

The LG G7 ThinQ is a flagship device with a dual camera that departs from the norm: rather than the usual tele/wide combo, it offers wide and super-wide angle lenses. While it doesn't produce class-leading image quality, it's a solid option if you favor wide-angle shooting.

The Fujifilm X-T100 is the company's least expensive X-series camera to include an electronic viewfinder. It shares most of its guts with the entry-level X-A5, including its hybrid AF system and 24MP sensor and, unfortunately, its 4K/15p video mode.

Whether you're hitting the beach in the Northern Hemisphere or the ski slopes in the Southern, a rugged compact camera makes a great companion. In this buying guide we've taken a look at seven current models and chosen our favorites.

What's the best camera for a parent? The best cameras for shooting kids and family must have fast autofocus, good low-light image quality and great video. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for parents, and recommended the best.

What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.

What’s the best camera costing over $2000? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2000 and recommended the best.

Alex and Kathryn are photographers, friends and Tokyo residents who love exploring Japan's hidden cultural treasures. They each brought a Canon EOS M50 on a recent trip starting in bustling Tokyo and ending in the peaceful riverside town of Gujo Hachiman.

Canon's latest 70-200mm F4L comes with a five stops of image stabilization, a new coat of paint and impressive sharpness. We've been shooting with our copy for several weeks now - see how it stacks up in our sample gallery.

Special 4K and 6K Photo modes may be one of the most under-appreciated features on recent cameras. In this week's episode, Chris and Jordan take a closer look at these modes and explain why – and when – you'll be glad to have them on your camera.

Ten years ago this month Panasonic and Olympus announced a new concept called Micro Four Thirds. We're now on the brink of full-frame mirrorless from at least one major player, so perhaps it's a good time to take a look back at where it all started – and how far we've come.

At a high-profile launch event in New York, Samsung took the wraps off its next Note device. The Galaxy Note 9 borrows the S9+'s 12MP dual-aperture dual-cam, with OIS in both cameras and an emphasis on AI-enhanced shooting modes.

One of the most keenly-awaited lenses for a while, the new Pentax D FA* 50mm F1.4 is finally here, and we've been using it for a few days. In this article, we're updating our initial impressions on the basis of our recent shooting with the K-1 II.

This week we take a look at one of the most unusual optics we've seen for quite a while. The Laowa 24mm F14 Macro Probe lens may look like something out of a science fiction movie, but as Chris and Jordan discover, it opens the door to some pretty cool photo opportunities.